Toggle bolt



L. R. ZIFFERER TOGGLE BOLT Filed April 16, 1925 Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

PATENT oFFlcE.

LOTHAR R. ZIFFERER, OF COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

- TQGGLE BOLT.

Application filed April 16, 1925. Ser1a1 No. 23,577.

This invention relates to a toggle bolt in which is comprised a pivoted head having spring means whereby it tends normally to lie transversely of theassociated bolt. More particularly this invention is concerned with the spring itself and its cooperative relation to the head and bolt. g

In toggle bolts of the kind contemplated, the bolt is provided with a suitable means, such as .a fixed pin or an adjustable nut, whereon is pivotally mounted the head. Such a nut is looselythreaded upon the bolt, so that the latter may be screwed home by rotating the bolt relative to the nut. The head which is aligned with the bolt during insertion of the device through the hole where it is anchored, should be free to turn upon its mounting into transverse relation with the bolt whereby to engage with an inside face of the wall or ceiling when the fastening is secured in place. Difficulty is commonly experienced, however,in inducing the head to assume a transverse position once it has been turned parallel to the bolt.

. According to the present invention, the head which is. constructed in one piece is mounted to swing upon either side of the bolt in opposition to pressure of a spring means, but normally to lie in a central or transverse position where the spring forces are equalized. In this normal or working position, the head is freely movable upon the the head;

bolt, due to the substantially complete cessation of spring pressure thereupon, thus rendering it easy and simple to screw the bolt.

home without any tendency for a corresponding rotation of the head. Iaccomplish the results above noted by means which are simple, inexpensive, and readily assembled in place.

My invention may'be embodied in several difl'erent constructions, three of which are set forth in the accompanying drawing in the manner following:

Figure 1 which is a longitudinal section through a toggle head shows the associated parts, including one form of spring means for assuring its transverse position;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the bolt on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking toward Fig. 3 is a view artly insection looking toward one end oft e head;

Fig: at shows the spring means per se;

Fig. 5. shows per se the same spring means formed of two parts;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through a toggle head having amounting of modified construction; and i V Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the bolt on line 7--7 of Fig. 6, looking toward the head.

. The resent toggle head A is preferabl stampe from sheet metal to provide a bach 8 which is reinforced by a pair of walls 9 extending from opposite edges in parallel relation. The resulting structure which is elongated issubstantially channel or U-shaped in cross section. A slot 10 is formed centrally and longitudinally ofthe back, as shown.

A pivotal mounting for the head is provided in a pin which may be carried fast by the bolt or, as shown, a pair of trunnions 11 which extend oppositely from a nut B which is in threaded engagement with abolt C. The two trunnions pass through suitable holes in the two head walls about equidistantly of their lengths. Bythis construction the head may swing in either direction down upon opposite sides of the bolt provided that the latter is unscrewed to about the longitudinal position indicated in Fig. 1. When moved to an advanced position, the bolt passes through the slot in the head as far as necessary to secure the work in place;

The preceding description has reference to one form ofa one-piece toggle head with which may be associated the novel spring means of my invention, This means may be of one or more parts, as will presently appear. As shown in Fig. 4, it comprises a single spriiig wire bent to provide three major loops,one 12 being adapted to encircle the bolt and the other two 13 to encircle the trunnions, whereon the head is pivotally mounted. These two latter loops are disposed in planes which are generally parallel and, of course, lie on opposite sides of the bolt. The two wire ends 14 are oppositely extended to connect with the head at points which lie upon opposite sides of the bolt axis. As a convenient means of securing the spring to the head, I may strike through the latter openings wherein the wire ends may lie toexert upon the head the necessary ten sion for fiSS'liIlIlg its normal transverse rela ties. to the bolt; It should he nested that the spring does not itself engage appreciably with the bolt, but that it exerts opposing and equal forces upon the head which are neutralized when the head is disposed in a central position.

In Fig. 5 I have suggested an alternative spring construction. This is formed into the same bends as the wire shown in Fig. at, except that it is made of two non-connected wires. The outer ends of these two wires attach to the head in some such manner as I have already explained, but the inner ends 15 which encircle the bolt can be left free.

The advantages whichare derived from the use of a spring means of the kind described may also be realized in other alternative constructions, one of wh ch is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The head and bolt are the same, but the trunnioned nut 13 is preferably formed with lips 16 adapted to engage with a bowed leaf spring 17 carried by the back 8. hen the head is swung away from its normal position in either direction, this spring is resisted by the nut and consequently exerts a force which tends to restore the head to its transverse position. The spring shown in this construction is, of course, slotted as at 18 to allow advance of the bolt therethrough, its securenient to the head being effected in any convenient manner as by means otwings 19 which are instruck from the head, preferably close to the ends thereof.

From the preceding description it will be understood thatthis invention is characterized by spring means which tend to restore the head to a transverse position whenever it is swung in either direction to approach parallelism with the bolt, the spring being free of the bolt so as to exert its opposing pressures only upon the head and mounting therefor. Any construction answering to this description, and more particularly to the terms ofthe appended claims, I would include within the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A toggle bolt in which is comprised a bolt, a nut on the bolt, a one-part head pivotally mounted on the nut, and spring means associated with the nut and tending to exert balanced pressures on opposite ends of the head whereby to hold the latter in a position transversely of the bolt, substantially as described.

A toggle bolt in which is comprised an elongated head, a nut, trunnions extended from the nut through the head to provide a pivotal mounting therefor, a spring wire having its ends loosely engaged with the head on opposite sides of its pivotal axis and bent to'provide loops which encircle the nut trunnions whereby its opposing pressures are exerted equally against the two head ends, and a bolt entered throughthe nut and tree of the wire associated therewith, substantially as described.

3. A toggle bolt in which is comprised a bolt, a nut on the bolt, the nut having oppositely extending trunnions, an elongated onepart head pivotally mounted on the nut trunnions, and a spring wire having its two ends engaged with the head on opposite sides of the bolt axis, the intervening wire length being coiled around the two trunnions and bolt in a manner to lie free of the latter when the head is transversely related to the bolt, substantially as described.

i. A. toggle bolt having, in combination, a bolt, a one-part head, a pivotal mounting for the head upon the bolt, and a spring encircling the pivotal mounting and bolt and extending its two ends oppositely and in misalignment to engage with thehead at spaced points thereupon, substantially as described.

In a toggle bolt, the combination of a one part head, a pivotal mounting therefor, 

